It’s finally happened: Spider-Man has starred in so many games that one webslinger just isn’t enough anymore. In Shattered Dimensions, the Amazing Spider-Man of the main Marvel Universe is joined by three other-dimensional versions to retrieve pieces of the shattered Tablet of Order and Chaos. If they don’t, all parallel universes will be destroyed. Which, you know, would be kinda bad.

Each level follows a different Spidey in a showdown with a supervillain who’s been supercharged by one of the mystical fragments. While the Amazing Spider-Man has all his classic web-swinging abilities, his doppelgangers have unique differences: Spider-Man Noir, whose setting is the gothic 1930s, is nigh-invisible in shadow; the futuristic Spider-Man 2099 has slo-mo vision; and Ultimate Spider-Man is decked out in his old symbiote-powered black suit.

Unlike previous Spidey games from Activision, gameplay is mostly linear, with you swinging and punching through a gauntlet of challenges, in what are essentially long boss battles. The worlds and settings are diverse, though the level design grows formulaic — beat up henchmen, fight the boss, beat up more henchmen, fight the boss again, and so on. Some levels, like your encounter with Ultimate Deadpool — he’s the host of a Running Man–style TV show, with fanboys for henchmen — are truly inspired, while others just seem to go on too long for their own good. There’s also the usual gotta-catch-’em-all aspect of mini-challenges, combat upgrades, and new costumes to unlock. Oh, and lest we forget, boss battles sometimes switch to first-person perspective for Punch-Out!!–style fisticuffs. Cute, but superfluous.

Definitely worth at least a rental, Shattered Dimensions has its charms: quality writing and voice-acting, inventive set pieces, and, yup, four different Spider-Men. Just remember that even in parallel universes, history is bound to repeat itself.

On Xbox 360

+ Four different Spideys to play as, each with a unique skill set.

+ Snappy writing and great in-game delivery.

- Levels can grow repetitive.

? All these different versions of the Wallcrawler are great, but where's the most important one: Zombie Spider-Man?

7.5